Twelve Days in Cambodia

Our team is so grateful to Gwen for being our team computer expert and keeping our blog active during our twelve-day Cambodian adventure! My observations come from my home computer as I could never get into my e-mail while away. Can you tell I depend on my husband, Bob, to help me with my computer skills?!

As this was my third visit to Cambodia I cannot share what we experienced in Cambodia each day with the 'fresh eyes' Gwen had as a first-time visitor. I would like to reflect instead on the feelings I had in returning to this beautiful country and the gifts the Cambodian people have given to each of us on the team.

I refer to the beauty of Cambodia not only for the surroundings which are green and lush during the rainy season, but for the people who are generous, loving, caring, and above all have so much joy in life. They live life with a love and joy in God and the things He has given them even in the sorrow of much loss in their lives. They rejoice through dancing, singing, and praising God in everything they do and say. They appreciate what they have and what others do to help them learn about God. They are happy despite the lack of many material things. They trust that God will provide for them if they believe and worship Him.

As our Cambodian sisters shared their stories of struggle and loss during the Khmer Rouge they touched our hearts in a way no others can. Though we can never understand the horror of the Pol Pot Regime, we could feel their pain. We could feel their strength and courage. We could feel the joy of their newly found faith. We could empathize as they shared the struggle they have, even today, helping others in their own families understand God's love and care. Many are from Buddhist families who do not understand the Christianity they have found and the gifts God's grace gives them. Two of our young translators are sisters from a Buddhist family who have become Christians. They are fortunate as their family allows them to be Christian. Many families do not accept their children being Christian. Many Christian wives do not have Christian husbands. Many of the women fear the ways their husbands will treat them because they believe in God. Women in Cambodia are still seen as property of their husbands. Some of these women continue to be raped and beaten by their husbands. Christianity is bringing them the freedom to know they have worth and a say in how they live and are treated. Christianity is giving them hope and peace in their lives and their children's lives.

Though they have little to share, they share everything! After we visited a village in the Takeo Province to watch women weave on wooden looms (purchased with money from UMWs of the United States), they served us a meal. It was a meal of rice, meat, soup, and stew, enough to feed their whole village for a week. The church service and meal were under a tent they had used their precious money to rent so WE would not be too hot in the scorching sun. As a gift to each of us for our visit they gave us colorful silk scarves they had taken many hours to weave
on the wooden looms under their homes. A gift of self that could have brought much money to their village. A true gift of love!